Come join us at The Huss Project this Saturday for Watershed Voice’s sixth annual artist showcase featuring local musicians, spoken word artists, and journalism. This Saturday, July 25 beginning at 6 p.m. Watershed Voice will showcase artists from Southwest Michigan and beyond at the Huss Project's Imaginarium, located at 1008 8th St. in Three Rivers.
The basic outline of the program: A one-time community investment — federal, state, local government grants, and/or philanthropic — goes into building a new home that’s affordable for families with modest incomes. That first family, and following families, agree to "pay it forward." A requirement to keep the property at a price for a specific area median income, for generations, is baked into the deed. For the program to work, they buy it and sell it at under market value. Saying this will run for "99 years" is a way of saying it's "more or less permanent," Beth McCann, Executive Director of KNHS says. "In theory, it should outlast Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services. It should outlast everybody."
The Sturgis City Commission will meet tonight, Wednesday, July 22 at 6 p.m. for a regular business meeting at City Hall. Commissioners will set a budget discussion public hearing, consider allowing the Sturgis Historical Society (SHS) to host cemetery tours, and consider a property transfer and an AEP pole line purchase. Wednesday will also be City Manager Andrew Kuk's final city commission meeting as his resignation goes into effect July 24.
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) has filed a federal lawsuit against the recently closed Sturgis Hospital, alleging the hospital violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act by failing to provide the required advance notice before laying off employees. The law generally requires employers to provide 60 days’ advance notice of certain plant closings and mass layoffs to affected employees or their union representative. In a statement shared with Watershed Voice, MNA said nurses only received 72 hours’ notice, violating the federal 60-day requirement.
Based in Sturgis, the accelerated three-week program combines classroom instruction with behind-the-wheel training, giving students the skills needed to earn a CDL-A license and begin careers in commercial trucking. The program is offered through a partnership between Glen Oaks Community College and Regen Trucking School.
“You are not investors, you are invaders,” resident Garrett Maverick began, addressing Hyperscale. He then turned to the city council, “Your scolding, your distance, and your lack of transparency on this issue is embarrassing and disqualifying.” The final public comment of the night left a clear message from residents as Peter Gibbons shared his thoughts on the Hyperscale buyout offers. “If somebody’s got their boot on your head, when they lift their boot off your head, they’re not a hero,” he said.
Commissioners will look to finalize a contract to make Doug Terry the city’s interim city manager replacing Andrew Kuk once his resignation becomes final on July 24. Commissioners interviewed Terry during their June 22 meeting and voted to extend him a conditional offer pending a contract agreement, background check, and reference check. Terry was the lone candidate as the other potential replacements the city reached out to were unable to apply due to prior commitments.
As of now, the case has been filed as a class-action lawsuit against Hyperscale Data Inc. in the Kalamazoo U.S. District Court. The case alleges that because of the constant noise being emitted from the Hyperscale Data Inc. data center, property values for residents living within a mile of the facility are declining. Attorneys Laura Sheets and Steven Liddle acknowledged there are other impacts associated with the data center — such as environmental concerns and a lack of transparency — however, the case in its current state is only alleging property damage and seeking compensation for those claims. The defendant — Hyperscale Data Inc. — has reviewed those claims and asked for an extension to give an answer, which was granted and is due July 24.
Soon after that expansion was initially announced, Dowagiac Mayor Patrick Bakeman and City Manager Kevin Anderson said the city had no more information than the public about the property. This prompted Mayor Bakeman to write the company an open letter on April 1, giving Hyperscale 45 days to provide the city with more information. On the final day, Bakeman said the company agreed to schedule a meeting “with the expectation that we will meet within the week.” Bakeman has provided no further updates on that meeting. Watershed Voice reached out to Mayor Bakeman seeking an update on the status and content of that meeting but did not receive a response before publication.
The Edison Neighborhood Association’s building on Washington Avenue in Kalamazoo is undergoing renovations to become a “resilience hub.” That means it’ll be outfitted to serve residents in the case of extreme weather during heat waves or after tornados. Renovations include solar panels, battery storage, a commercial kitchen, and an upgraded community room that will allow for livestreaming meetings.
A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR
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